We've been pretty absent around here for a couple of reasons--first, this is an adoptive family blog for the most part, with an audience of prospective adoptive families. We really haven't felt like a "different" family lately. The kids haven't had any of their special needs issues flaring, we haven't had attachment issues, and it's been summer, so we have been outside playing.
There were a couple of big summer milestones, so those warrant a post. First, Melat turned 5 on August 22. We postponed her adoption finalization while we waited to decide if we were going to change her birthdate. Ultimately we decided not to--believing it to be accurate (her birthmom assured us that it was) but she's just an especially bright kid, and has very good motor coordination, so we've always wondered.
On August 25th, we went to court to finalize her adoption. We did this pro se (without an attorney) to save on adoption costs. Because Ethiopia isn't part of the Hague convention, kids adopted in ET have to be re-adopted to gain US Citizenship, otherwise she remains a permanent resident alien on a green card with a Ethiopian passport.
I'm including a photo of all of us at the court--the judge gave her the funny pink Alligator and the court staff took this cute portrait of all of us. We spent two days playing on the beaches of Port Townsend (we filed in Jefferson county--which would be less hassle than in our home county).
After court, we took all the family out for an old-fashioned burger and malt lunch at a soda fountian in the back of a pharmacy. They had a great little corner that fit our little birthday party, and Melat got to open her birthday presents, and drink the biggest milkshake I've ever seen. A fun birthday party was had by all.
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